Multiple-switch starter.



H. J. WIEGAND.

MULTIPLE swrrcn STARTER.

APPLICATION IILBD MAY 20, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

ATTORNEY //KQW7% A H. J. WIEGAND.

MULTIPLE SWITCH STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1907.

91 3,365, Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

as) I 40 4 42' Z1 43 KJZQQ 1 I I I JO 1% 49 F I 68 L q ae g 1 -1 59 fi %?29 ,57 66% WITNESSES: INVEN'ILOR UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY J. WIEGAND, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE CUTLER-HAMMER MFG. 30., OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

MULTIPLE-SWITCH STARTER.

Specificetion of Letters Patent.

Patented men a, moo.v

' Application filed May 1907. Serial No. 374,727.

' hand operated switches are used to control a resistance.

One of the objects of the resent invention is to provide means where y the motor circuit will be opened, unless all of the resist' ance is removed from circuit.

According to the preferred'form of my invention, provide a plurality of hand operated switches which are adapted prefera ly to be closed in a definite sequence, to remove the starting resistance from circuit. The starting resistance of devices of this character is usually constructed of wire,

which while being of suificient capacity to carry the current for a short time, is not of sufficient ca ,acity to carry the current for a long perio of time. able to provide some means whereby the o erator can not close te circuit through vent the operator from or controls a short circuit around the same,

is e motor and the starti g resistance, and go away and leave the controller in this condition. To prevent such conditions from happening, in the present invention, one of the switches is adapted to dontrol the motor circuit. I provide a low voltage retaining device for retaining this and the remaining switches in their closed osition, and to preleaving the starting device before all of'the switchesare closed and before all of the starting resistancehas been removed from circuit, I provide amanually operated switch which either controls the circuit .through the low' voltage device and which, when, in one position renders the low voltage device inoperative, and when in'another position renders the low voltage device operative. The tendency. of the manual switch is to move to a position to render the low: voltage device inoperative and therefore during the closing operation .ment.. Fig. 8 is a modified form of my invention, and Fig. 91

It is therefore desir p is aview of still another modification of my" of the resistance controllin switches, the o 'erator must hold the sma switch manua y until the last switch of the series is closed.'- When the last switch of theseries is closed, a second switch is operated which renders the manual switch ineffective, and the low volta e device will retain the switches in their closed ositi'on. While I have illustrate and described the preferred embodiment of my invention which have worked out for practical operation, it will be understood that my invention is susceptible to various modifications;

For. the purpose of disclosing my invenr .t1on,.l have illustrated in the accompanying drawings a number of. forms which: the in,- vention may take, and in said drawings:

Figure 1' is a front elevationof one form of the switch of my invention. Fig; 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3' is a sectional top view of one of the levers, and a top view of' one of the coijp'eratin rocking d'o Fig. 1; 1s a detailed view of the latchmec anism for E holding the leversin a closed position. Fig, 5 detailed view of one of the swinging dogs employed. Fig. 6 is a detailed view of a modificatlon of my invention; Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit arr'an ediagrammatic view 0 a invention. f In the embodiment of. the invention illustrated, switch levers or arms 1, '1, 1 and I"' are suitably pivoted or journaled' atone end, and at the opposite end are rovi'ded with suitable operating handles. have shown the severalswitch levers as 'journaled upon a shaft orrod 2, mounted in bearings upon: brackets 3. .The'bi'ackets 3- also'support a rod 4 threaded through a rubber tube 5,

which serves as a cushion or bufier; against which the extended ends of the switch arms or levers are ada ted to impinge, when thrown 0 en. Each contact evice 6' made preferably in the, form of a number of strips of copperlaiil face to face, the free ends" of which are adapted to engage contact surfaces to comletc the circuit therethrough. The last lever 1 of the series, in addition to the conofthe leverscan'ies' a j 1 tact device 6, carries a contact 7, whichmay take the form of a pair of springs as shown in the drawings, or any other desired form,

and which is suitably screwed or otherwise secured upon an insulating block 8, secured to the lever.

Upon the base board 9, which forms a support for the various parts of the switch, and which is preferably made of soapstone, slate or like insulating material, is mounted. a contact bar 10, with which one end of the contact device of each arm or lever is adapted to engage, the other end of said device being adapted to engage terminals 11, 11 11", and 11. The termlnalll is extended and carries a binding post 12 by which the same may be suitably electrically connected, as will be more fully hereinafter described.

U on the terminal 11 is mounted a carbon bloc 13, and a similar carbon block 1 1 is mounted upon the end of the contact bar 10.

The first switch arm carries laterally extending spring arms 15 and 16, which support upon their ends, carbon blocks 17 and 18. When the switch arm 1 is moved to close the circuit, the block 17 engages the block 13, and the block 18 engages the block 14, thereby closing the circuit from the terminal 11 to the terminal 10. The further movement of the switch arm 1 causes the contact device 6 thereof to directly close together the terminals 11 and 10. Likewise when the switch arm 1 is moved outward, the contact device 6 leaves the terminals 10 and 11 before the carbon contact blocks 17 and 18 leave the blocks 13 and 14, so that any are that may form by the opening of the circuit will take lace between the carbon blocks, instead of between the metallic surfaces.

Near the upper end of the switch arm 1, a lug 19 is provided, which carries a laterally extending rod 20, which may take the form of a screw. Mounted upon the base board 9 and above the arm 1 is a retaining magnet 21, having an armature 22 pivoted at 23. The armature carries an upwardly extending lug 24 and when the arm 1 ismoved to close the circuit the rod 20 engages the armature to move the same against the magnet pole where the mechanism of the magnet retains it. The swinging-of the armature 22 carries the lug 24 upon the exterior o'f 'the rod 20 so that the rod will rest in the slot formed between the lug and the face of the armature, and as long as the magnet 21 remains energized, the arm 1 will thus be held in the closed position. When, however, the magnet 21 is deener 'zed, the armature 22 will be released, and t e wei ht of the arm 1 will carry the same to t e position shown in 'ounted upon a rod or shaft 25, sup orted in suitable bearings upon the base pate 9, are rocking dogs 26, 26*- and 26 Each dog has its rear end so shaped as to engage the base plate 9 and limit the downward movement of the dog when free. Upon the end of the dog, to the right hand side, an upwardly erases extending lip 27 is provided, which has its front edge curved and its rear edge perpendicular to the upper surface of the dog. The under side of the dog has a lip 28, extending throughout its whole length which is rounded oil at the left hand side. Each of the levers 1 tov 1 inclusive, is provided with a latch 29, pivoted to the arm or lever at 30, andset in a slot 31, the walls of which limit the vertical movement of the latch relatively to the arm. Below the latch and formed integrally with the lever is a lug 32 projecting toward the base plate and consisting of two parts 33 and 34:- The part 33 is square in section and flat upon the end and when the lever is in a position to close the circuit presents a vertical surface. The upper face or the part 34 is inclined or chamfere'd at an acute angle.

In addition to the contact terminals 10 and 1 1, for the last switch 1, a pair of terminals 35 and ,36 are mounted upon the base adapted to be engaged, when the last switch 1 is closed, by the spring contacts 7. small hand switch 38 is pivoted at the lower left hand corner of the base or panel and is adapted to engage a contact 39 when moved by the' hand. A spring 10, however, tends to maintain-the switch in its normal or open position.

The mechanical operation of the switch arms is substantially as follows during the starting operation. the switch 38 is first closed and held by the operator against the tension of the spring 16. T 1e closing of the switch 38 energizes the retaining magnet 21. The first arm 1 is now closed to first close the circuit andthe carbon blocks 17 and 18, respectively engage the carbon blocks 13 and 14, thereby c osing the circuit at this point. The further movement of the arm causes the contact device 6 of the arm 1 to bridge the contact terminals 10 and 11. v The armature 22- is engaged and moved against the pole of the retaining magnet 21 and the retaining magnet thus serves to maintain the switch arm in a closed osition as long as the switch 38 is held by t 1e operator. In moving the arm 1 to a closed position the oblique wall 3 1 of the lug 32 engages the under face of the first rocking dog 26 and swings the sarne into the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. The operator, still holding the switch 38 closed with one, hand, now by his other hand closes the arm 1 and as the dog 26 is in its raised position, the latch 29 will ride over the lip 27 of the dog and will engage the vertical wall thereof, and the switch arm '1 a will thus be held in a closed position. The wall 31 of the arm -1 will lift and engage the second rocking dog 26 so that when the arm 1 is closed, the latch 29 thereof will be engaged and held by the lip 27 of the dog 26*. in a similar manner the remaining switches may be closed.

l/ fhen the last switch 1 is closed, the

in starting the motor,-

until the switch is again opened. In event,

the current through the magnet 21 fails for ,any reasons, the first switch 1 will immediately be released,- which in moving outward, permits the first rocking dog 26 to fall and the latch of the second switch arm is thus released and the switch arm flies outward."

The switch arm 1 permits the second rocking dog to fall, thereby releasing the third I switch arm, and in a similar manner, each switch arm releases the next succeeding arm, until all of the arms have been released, and the circuit opens.

Any attempt to close one of the switch arms out'of its order will be prevented, due to the fact that the flat face 33 will engage the end of the rocking dog when it is in its lower position, and it is only when the dog has been raised tothe upper'pbosition that the flat face is permitted to pass eneath the end of the dog. Moreover unless the rockin dog is in the upper position, the latch29 wi i not engage the Ii 27 on the dog, therefore the eld in the upper position only arms will be when the preceding switc closed. A

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated a diagram matic view of the circuit arrangement of the arm has been device illustrated in Figs. 1 to' 5. As shown in this figure the contact terminal 11 is connected by a conductor 37, with one terminal of the armature 38, the opposite terminal of the armature being connected with one side 39 of the supply main. One terminal of the shunt field winding is connected by conductor 41 with the negativeside 39 of the line, and the opposite terminal is connected by conductors 42 and 43 with the contact her 10. One terminal of the winding of the magnet 21 is connected through the resistance 44 by conductor {15, with the contact 35, which in turn is connected by conductor 46, with the contact The switch 38 is connected by conductor 47, with the contact 36, whichin turn is connected by conductor 48, with the negative side 39 of the line. Between the terminals 11, 11,

11 and 11 a resistance 48 is connected,

which is divided into sections and connected with each of the above mentioned terminals.

A section 49 of resistance is also connected between the contact 1]. and the contact '10. The terminal 11 is connected with the positive side 50 of the supply main.

In operation, after the operator has closed the switch 38, as soon as he closes the first of the switches 1, circuit will be established from the positive side 50 to the contact 11, thence across the first switch 1, to the contact bar 10, then cc by conductor 43, through the winding of the magnet 21, through the resistance 44, by conductors 45 and 46,

across the switch 38, and by conductors 47 and 48, to the negative side 39 of the line. The magnet is thus energized and maintains thefirst switch in its closed position as has been previously pointed out. The closing of the first switch 1 also establishes a circuit from the positive side 50 of the line across the first switch 1, thence through the resistance 49, and all of the resistance 48, to the last terminal 11, and thence by conductor 3?, through the armature 38, to the opposite side .39 of the line. The field circuit is also established from the conductor 43, by conductor 42, through the shunt field winding to the opposite sid'39 of the line. The motor thus starts with all the resistance in circuit, and as the remaining switches are closed, the resistance 49 is cut out and then the resistance 48, section by section,yuntil all the resistance is removed from the motor circuit, and the motor running at full contact 7 bridges the contacts 35 and 36, thereby short circuiting the switch 38 and maintaining the circuit closed through the winding of the magnet 21.

It may happen that an operator, after closing a portion of the switch arms, will neglect to close the remainder and will walk off releasing the switch 38. Under these cir cumstances, it Will be seen that as soon as the switch 38 is opened, the circuit through 1 the magnet 21 is opened, which will permit all of the switch arms which have been closed to 0, en again, thereby opening the circuit thro h the motor. It will therefore be seen t at it is impossible fora careless operleave the= starter in this condition. The resistance of a starting device of this character is usually constructed of wire, which while sufficiently heavy to carry the current for a short period of time while the motor is being started,-is not usually of sufiicient capacity to carry a current for a considerable period of time, and it is therefore desirable to provide some means to prevent the leaving of a portion of a resistai'ice in circuit for aconsiderable period of time. If during the starting '0 eration, the operator fails to close all 0' the switches, he must hold the switch 38 closed in order that those switches which he has closed shall remain so, and under these circumstances, if the resistance is left in circuit for-a considerable period of time, he will be notified theheating up of'the resistance, and wil therefore either remove all of'the resistance from circuit by closingthe remaining switches or open the circuit through the motor. It is therefore seen'that by this construction it is impossible for a careless operator to close a portion of the switches and go off leaving them in this condition. The operator must close all of the switches before permitting the switch speed. When the last switch 1 1s closed,

ator to opt out a'portion of the resistance andto open or as soon as he permits the switch 38 to open, the switches which he has closed will drop back to normal position,

in 8 I have illustrated a modification of my device wherein a short circuit is established around the magnet 21, long as the last switch arm is left open, which short circuit, however, isopened by the switch 38. In this form of my invention the last switch 1 carries a spring contact 51, whichwhile the switch is open is adapted to engage the stationary contact 52., 'lhe stationary contact 52 is connected by a short conductor 53, with the switch 38, and the contact 39 of the switch is connected by a conductor 54, with one terminal of the winding oi the magnet 2-1. This terminal is also connected by a conductor 55, through the shunt field 40 of the motor, to the negative side 39 of the line. The other connections for the motor are similar to those of Fig. in Fig. 8, however, the magnet 21 is shown as being connected in series with the shunt held 40. In the operation of the modification illustrated in this figure when the switch 1 is closed, circuit is established from the positive side 50 of the line, across the switch arm 1, through all the resistance and through the motor armaturevas described with respect to'Fig. 7. Circuit is also e tablished from the contact 10, by co through the winding of thema loy conductor 55, through the s, 5; held 40 ofthe motor, to the c opositesi '59 of the line, that is, a circuit is thus estaolished as long as the operator holds the switch 38 open, the normal tendency of this switch 38 heing to close. if for anyreason the operator permits the switch 38-to close, then a circuit around the magnet will be established 21, and

from the contact 10, across the springswitch .51, which as long as the last switch 1 is open, remains closed, by conductor across the switch arm 38, by conductors 54 and 55, through the shunt field 40, to the opposite side 39 of the line. It will thus be seen that the magnet 21 is denergized, permitting the switch arms to drop to their open position. When the last switch 1" is closed, the switch 51 is opened, thereby opening the short circuit around the magnet at this point and rendering the switch 38 ineffective. This switch therefore may he ermitted to spring to its. normal or closed position without affecting the magnet 21. V

in Fig. 9 is showustili another modificati'on of my invention in which instead of using a double contact switch as illustrated with respect to Fig. 7, a single contact switch is used. in the device u d for this modification, the last switch arm i", instead of carrying double an itch contact, as shown at 7, carries merely single switch contact adapted to engage with a single switch contact 56, which is connected lay a conductor 'swit ches, which ctor 43,

eiaees through thewinding of the magnet 21, in-

stead of from the contact 10, by conductor 59, across the switch 38. it will thus be seen that the operator may permit switch 38 to move to its'normal or open position when the lastswitch 1 is closed, but if he permits the switch move to its open position before the last switch 1 is closed, the magnet will be dener ized, opening all of the ave been closed by him.

Having thus described my invention what clai as new and desire to secure by Letters atent is:

ng to stand inopen position, means for holding all of sa1d switches chased position, means independent of said. switches adapted to be manually operated to rendersaid retaining means effect- We and adapted to render sa1d retaining vmeans ineffective if released before certain of said switches are closed, and means operated upon the closure of one of said switches for maintaining said retaining means effective, irrespective of the position of said manually operated means.

3. The combination with a plurality of switches, of an electro-responsive means for retaining all oi sa1d switches ln'closed pos1 tion, and means adapted to be manually operated to render said electro-responsive means operative, and adapted to render said electro-res onsive means inoperative if released-be ore certain'of sai switches are closed. 4. The combination with a plurality of switches tending to stand in open position, an electro-responsive means :tor retaining said switches in closed position, means' ada ted to he manually operated to render sai' electro-responsive means operative and adapted to render said electro-responsive means inoperative if released before certain of said switches are closed 'and means operated upon the closure of one of said switches for maintaining said electro-responsive means operative, irrespective of the position of said manually operated means.

1. The combination with a plurality of of a retaining ma net for holding one of saidswitches in close position, means for holdplurality of interlocking devices for holding ing the remaining switches in closed position and adapted to release the same when said first mentioned switch is released and an i-n-' dependent switch adapted to be manually operated to render said retaining magnet e 'ective and to render said retaining magnet ineffective if released before, all of said switches are closed. Y

6. The combination with a plurality of switches tending to stand in open position, means insuring the closure of said switches in a definite se uence, a retaining magnet for holding the rst switchof the se name in closed position, means for holding t e remainin switches in closed position and adapted to be rendered ineffective upon the openingv of the first switch of the sequence, anindependent. switch adapted to be manually' operated to cause saldmagnet to be energized and to cause said magnet to be de'nergized if released before all of said first mentioned switches are closed and means operated upon the closure of the last switch 0 the sequence for maintaining said magnet energized, irrespective of the position of said manually operated switch.

7. The combination with a. plurality of switches, of a retaining magnet therefor, a

manually operated switch for causing an operative current to flow through said magnet during the closing operation of said switches, and. a switch operated by the closing of the last switch for causing an operative current to flow through said ma et.

8. The combination with 'a plura ity of switches, 'of a retaining magnet therefor, a manually operated switch for causing an operative current to pass through said magnetand having a tendency to move to an inoperative position, and a switch operated by the closing of the last of the switches for causing an operative current to pass through said magnet. 9. The combinaton with a plurality of switches, of a retaining magnet for holding oneof said switches in a closed position, a

the remaining switches in a closed position, manually operated means formendering said retaining magnet efiective until the last switch is closed, and means operated upon the closure of the last switch for maintaining said magnet energized.

10. The combination with a plurality of switches tending't'o stand in open position, means insuring the closure of said switches in a definitese uenceand for causing each switch, when'c losed, to hold a succeeding switch in closed position, a retaining magnet for holding the first switch of' the sequence closed, an independent switch adapted to be switches are closed and an auxilia manually operated to cause said magnet to v be energized and to cause said magnet to be denergized if released before all of said switch ada ted to be operated upon the c osure of the ast switch of the sequence for rendering said independent switch ineffective to cause the denergization of said magnet.

11. The combination with a plurality of switches, of interlocking mechanism wherebyeach switch controls the next succeeding switch, a retaining electromagnet for holding the first switch, manually operated means which must be operated during the closing operation to render said retaming electro magnet operative, and means for maintain ingsaid retaining magnet operative when the last switch is closed.

12. The combination with a plurality of switches," of a retaining magnet for holding the same, a switch for controlling said magnet having a tendency to move'to inoperative position which must be held by the operator during the closing operation of said switches to'render said magnet effective.

13. In a motor controller, the combination with a plurality of sections of resistance, a. pluralit of mechanically interlocking switches or controlling the same, said switches tending to stand in open position, a retaining magnet for'holding said switches inclosed position, a switch adapted to be manually operated to cause said magnet to be energized and adapted to cause said magnet to be denergized if released before.

all of said first mentioned switches ,are

closed.

14. In a controlling device for electric motors, the combination with a lurality of sections of resistance, a plura ity of mechanically interlocking switches for controlling the same, said switches tending to stand in open (position, a retaining magnet for holding sai switches in closed position, a switch adapted to be manually operated to cause said magnet tobe ener ized and adapted to cause said magnet to e denergized if released before all of said first mentioned switches" are closed I and a switch operated-upon the closure of the last switch 0 the sequence for maintainingsaid magnet energized independently of said manually 1 controlled switch.

.15-.- In a controller for electric motors, the combination with a plurality of switches tending to stand in open osition, one of said switches being ada te to control the motor circuit, a plura 'ty of sections of resistance adapted to be controlled by the remaining switches, means. insuring the closure of said switches in a definite sequence, a retaining magnet for holding the motor circuitcontrolling switch in closed position, means for holding the remaining switches in closed position, said means being adapted to be rendered ineffective upon the release of said circuit controlling switch, and an independent switch adapted to be manually operated to cause said magnet to be energized and adapted to cause said ma net to he denergized if released before all 0 said first mentioned switches. are closed.

16. In a controller for electric motors, the combination with a plurality of switches tending to stand in open osition, one of said switches being ada te to control the motor circuit, a; plurality of sections of resistance adapted'to be controlled by the remaining w switches, means insuring the closure of said switches in a definite sequence, a retaining magnet for holding the motor circuit controlling switch in closed position,

means for holding the remaining switches in erases said circuit controlling switch, an independent switchadapted to be manuallyoperated to cause said magnet to he energized and to cause said magnet to be denergized if released heforeall of said switches are closed, and means operated upon the closure of the last switch of the sequence for rendering said independent switch inefiective to cause the deenergizaticn of said magnet.

In witnesss whereof, I have hereunto suh scribed my name in the presence of two Witnesses.

HENRY J. WIEGAND.

Witnesses:

T. E. BARNUM, R. H. MANSFIELD, Jr. 

